Big box stores rose in importance and became the mainstay of the American consumer economy. Using scanners, telecommunications, and computer data analysis, retailers predicted customers’ needs and managed supply chains. Attracted by low prices, consumers bought more goods. Critics worried that dropping prices lowered wages at home and abroad.

In 2011 nearly one out of five Americans worked in retail. The adoption of barcode scanning helped management speed check out, track inventory, and predict customer desires. For workers, the new productivity meant fewer jobs